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Northwest Arkansas Probate Attorney

Making your life easier during already hard times

Let us be your guiding light, walking you through each step of the probate process with care and compassion. We understand how overwhelming and emotional this can be, and we’re here to make it as smooth and stress-free as possible. Trust us to be your partner in this journey, and together we’ll navigate through it all.
Probate

You Can’t Afford the Wrong Probate Attorney

  • The probate process is complex. You need an attorney that has done more than a few.
  • Because it is complex, many probate attorneys seem to stretch out what should take 8 – 10 months into years.
  • There are few things more frustrating and distressing than feeling like you’re being ignored by the person who is supposed to be helping you through a difficult time. When you’re dealing with the loss of a loved one and the legal complexities of their estate, the last thing you need is a probate lawyer who won’t keep you informed or even respond to your attempts to contact them.

Responsive

Gary has been through probate personally and knows that during these difficult, you appreciate a response within hours, not days, or weeks.

As Fast as Possible

If an attorney doesn’t stay on top of things, probate can stretch out much longer than it should. We use a combination of tools to make sure we get it done as fast as possible.

Support

No matter what the issues are during probate, we are here to support you.

We Get It…Probate is Hard – We’re Here to Guide You to Success

We’ve helped many other people just like you and we’re ready to help ease the burden of the legal process of probate for you

We help speed up the probate process for the family, reduce money paid to creditors, and make the entire process less stressful

Probate

Professional and Knowledgeable Probate Lawyer

I’ve personally been through probate (before I went to law school) and know how difficult it is as a non-attorney. Probate and administration seems long, complex, and frustrating. 

We are here to make the complexity seem easy and take the sting of frustration away from the process. You’ll be surprised at how easy this can be. We guide you through the process with our unique, easy to follow, one step at a time systems. We do the hard part.

For most of our work, we’ll give you the price up front for your peace of mind. From time to time we do hourly work, but that is the exception, not the norm.

NaKita Hollingsworth
January 23, 2024.
Joshua Daniels is a very sharp lawyer. He has a strong voice when it comes down to it. He also listens closely and is kind. He has helped me completely and thoroughly through my entire case. He is the best lawyer straight across the board!
Zachary Smith
January 2, 2024.
I cannot recommend DeWitt Law highly enough. During a difficult time (a parent's sudden death), Gary was our anchor keeping us from drifting away and the lighthouse leading us through the intricacies of the probate process. He answered every weird question I had and was more patient than I deserved. Use DeWitt Law; you will not regret it.
John Edgmon
December 12, 2023.
Gary DeWitt Law Firm provided outstanding service for my estate. Very quick and concise. I highly recommend Gary for your estate lawyer. John Edgmon.
Tanaya Lucke
November 8, 2023.
I am so thankful I found this firm. They went above and beyond to help in my very stressful situation. They took the stress of the legal work away and I could breath. I wish I could give 10 starts. Highly recommend!
DeDe Cottingham
October 28, 2023.
The folks at DeWitt Law Firm are great. I would highly recommend them for your estate planning needs. They are friendly, thorough, and explain the entire process on a level you can understand. They provided excellent counsel for our next steps.
ivo kool
October 4, 2023.
Really Helpful and Skilled in setting up trust. Great to work with
Patty Marchbanks
September 9, 2023.
Gary and his wife were so friendly and knowledgeable with helping us with our Estate . They answered all our questions and gave us directions in things we hadn’t thought about. If you are thinking about getting your State planning done my husband and I highly recommend them !
Janet Brown
September 4, 2023.
Had a very good experience with Gary and Winnie. They were very speedy and detailed in getting several documents in order for me. I would highly recommend this law firm.
The Best Wills and Trusts Attorney

The Best Wills and Trusts Attorney

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Probate

Step-by-Step

Step 1

Book a Call. During this call we are going to get clarity on what’s really important to you and then whether we can help you or not. If we can help what the next steps might be.

Step 2

Let us be your guiding light, walking you through each step of the probate process with care and compassion. We understand how overwhelming and emotional this can be, and we’re here to make it as smooth and stress-free as possible. Trust us to be your partner in this journey, and together we’ll navigate through it all.

Step 3

Let us handle the legal part and your take care of what matters most… You and your family.

What is Probate and Why is it Needed?

What is Probate?

It is the legal process of transferring a person’s assets and property after their death. It involves verifying the authenticity of their will, identifying their heirs, paying their debts, and distributing their assets and property according to their will or state laws if they didn’t have a will.

Does a Will Prevent Probate?

No. A Will does NOT. A Will requires a Judge, to validate and activate the Will.

When is Probate Required?

Probate is required when a person dies and leaves assets and property that need to be transferred to their heirs or beneficiaries. The process is necessary to ensure that the transfer of assets and property is legal and binding. If a person had no plan or only a Will, then probate is required.

The Probate Process

The probate process involves several steps, including:

  • Filing a petition with the probate court to initiate the process
  • Identifying and notifying the deceased person’s heirs and beneficiaries
  • Verifying the authenticity of the deceased person’s will, if they had one
  • Identifying and inventorying the deceased person’s assets and property
  • Paying the deceased person’s debts and taxes
  • Distributing the remaining assets and property to the heirs and beneficiaries according to the deceased person’s will or state laws

How Long Does Probate Take?

The length of the process depends on several factors, such as the complexity of the estate, the number of beneficiaries, and the state’s laws. Probate can take anywhere from several months to several years.

Probate Costs

Probate can be expensive, and the costs vary depending on the state and the complexity of the estate. The costs include court fees, attorney fees, and executor fees. In Arkansas, you can assume the attorney fees will be about 3% of the GROSS estate. That is the total value of all the property and money without subtracting out debts and bills.

What Happens During Probate?

During probate, the court oversees the distribution of the deceased person’s assets and property. The court ensures that the deceased person’s debts are paid, and their assets and property are distributed according to their will or state laws.

Conclusion

Probate is a legal process that’s necessary for transferring a deceased person’s assets and property to their heirs and beneficiaries. While probate can be a complex and time-consuming process, it provides several benefits, such as ensuring that the deceased person’s wishes are carried out and that their debts are paid. However, it’s important to understand the risks and costs of probate and to explore alternative estate planning strategies to avoid probate if possible.

How to Get Started

Book Your 15-Minute Call Now

Probate-Law-Firm-Serving-Northwest-Arkansas

Areas Served

DeWitt Law Firm serves people with probate needs throughout Northwest Arkansas. We are ready to help you. And we serve multiple communities around Springdale, Arkansas.

Let DeWitt Law Firm put their experience and diligent legal representation to work for you. Contact us today to learn how DeWitt Law Firm can help you.

Helping Clients With Probate in the Following Northwest Arkansas Communities: